How about you want your Pixel to shake in response to the world around it? Now, Google’s Adaptive vibration can dynamically control the strength of vibrations to match your environment. With Android 15 on devices like the Pixel 7 or newer, this setting means your phone’s vibration stays responsive without you touching a thing.
How to enable Adaptive vibration and where to find it
With Android 15, the Adaptive vibration feature is introduced that either allows or prevents specific types of vibrations from run time to pixel, according to system stability status. This clever bit configures how loud or quiet vibrations feel based on your environment, using microphones and sensors to determine where your phone is and whether it’s a good time to drop or raise alert power. The vibration is turned off by default, so you must turn on this modulated experience.
Follow these steps to locate and enable Adaptive vibration on your Pixel phone running Android 15:
- Open the Settings app on your Pixel device.
- Go to Sound & vibration.
- Scroll down and select Vibration & haptics.
- Find Adaptive vibration and tap on it.
- Toggle the switch to enable the use of Adaptive vibration.
Adaptive vibration will take care of your phone’s vibrations so you’re aware without having to do anything. I tested this functionality on a Pixel 8 running Android 15, but it’s also available on the Pixel 7 and Pixel Fold.
Using Adaptive vibration for smoother alerts
In the latest Android 15 release, Google’s Adaptive vibration functionality allows Pixel phones to become even more intuitive. The Pixel series, known for its high-quality haptic feedback, adds to the experience by reacting to changes in the surrounding environment. Once activated, The vibration will be used on your phone sensors to set in live as you are around your phone vibrations for incoming calls, messages, or notifications.
If you’ve upgraded your Pixel 7 or newer to Android 15, your phone will vibrate better to whatever you’re in or on, whether in your pocket or bag or just flatly lying on a surface. Google also mentions that no data about the usage of this feature is stored or transmitted, making it a private but responsive option.
Differences in Adaptive vibration for Android 14 and 15
This setting on earlier Android 14 models might be Adaptive Alert Vibration or a simpler form of Adaptive vibration. It also moderates vibration strength but doesn’t decrease intensity unless the phone is flat and when it’s not in use. Pixel 8 devices running Android 14 now have this version of the feature, which will then roll out to full Adaptive Vibration on Pixel 8 devices upgraded to Android 15.
However, it’s important to note that older models, such as the Pixel 6a, do not natively support Adaptive vibration as rendered by Android 15 because of hardware limitations. Adaptive vibration is currently optimized for Pixel 7 and newer models, allowing these phones to use all the haptic goodness of Android.
Adaptive Vibration is a responsive design developed specifically for pixel owners with Android 15 in mind, especially when managing their notifications dynamically. With this update, the sensor can then learn independently without any further input from you, and it’ll use smart, privacy-first sensors to adjust as needed. The vibration enables your phone to deliver a more immersive and sensitive alert experience and more accurately provide a custom vibration to help you determine what might need your attention.
Image credits: Google